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June 4, 2025, Cairo, Egypt-The Regional Health Organization Office for the Eastern Mediterranean has launched a new strategy to reduce the burden of cholera throughout the region by 2028
The cholera preparation and response strategy for the WHO Mediterranean region for 2025-2028 arrives in a critical moment in an increase in an increase in suspicious cholera and acute aqueous diarrhea in different countries throughout the region. So far in 2025, the burden of regional cholera represents almost 55% of all cases of cholera and the deaths globally.
“Many countries in our region have become fertile ground for cholera due to a dangerous mix of prolonged conflicts, weak health systems, poverty, movements, bad waters, toilets -Sanitari and hygiene, low public awareness and extreme climatic climate shock absorbers. To protect the most at risk, in particular children and displaced populations, and to safeguard public health in a wider way, we must face these underlying drivers with prolonged commitment and coordinated collective actions “, says Dr. Hanan Balkhy, regional director of the eastern Mediterranean.
Sudan is experiencing one of the most serious outbreaks in recent history, with 65,291 cases and 1,721 deaths reported in 12 states from 26 May 2025; Khartum’s state has recorded over 7,600 cases and 142 deaths. In Yemen, the cholera remains endemic, with over 271000 suspicious cases and 884 deaths reported since March 2024. Syria faces a high risk of rebirth, pushing those to start an emergency response of six months aims at 850,000 people vulnerable to Aleppo, Lattachia, Al-Hasakeh and Damascus Governtes.
The new regional cholera strategy is aligned with the global task force on the cholera control table to put an end to the cholera by 2030, the WHO emergency preparation and response framework and the WHO emergency emergencies and the strategic plan of global cholera, readiness and response plan. It describes the concrete actions for countries to strengthen their preparation and response skills, focusing on four interconnected pillars:
- Strengthen the multi -sectoral coordination to unify the actors of health, water, toilet -social and emergency services in a single framework for the control of the cholera.
- Improve early warning and detection systems and quick response mechanisms to detect and contain outbreaks before intensifying.
- Expand access to the management of high quality cases to reduce mortality through timely diagnosis and treatment.
- Water services, toilet-sanitary services and hygiene (Wash) in areas with high risk and underlying, facing the environmental drivers of the cholera transmission.
- Strengthen collaboration in transversal areas such as risk communication and community commitment (RCCE).
The strategy also integrates prevention and response to sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment (Prsaah), equity and inclusion that integrate gender and operational research based on evidence.
The implementation of the strategy will be monitored through annual performance reviews, with a medium -term evaluation planned to help trace progress and adapt the strategy to evolving needs. However, an effective implementation will require the overcoming of the challenges, including the worsening of humanitarian conditions, the priorities of health in competition, chronic subfinification, limited human resources, fragile health infrastructures and global deficiency underway of essential cholera supplies, such as vaccines and treatments for rehydration therapy.
“Cholera is preventable, curable and can be controlled, but only if we act together and without delay,” said dr. Balkhy. “This strategy is more than a health intervention; it is a demand for leadership, solidarity and investments supported. Finish the cholera in the eastern Mediterranean, and beyond, it is within our reach, but only through a coordinated action that deals with systemic inequalities and builds resilience where it is necessary more. We do not have to wait for the next mortal outbreak to act.”
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